Nadine Graham

On day four of our Nas Life Is Good countdown, The BoomBox speaks with Karlie Hustle, music director of New York City radio station Hot 97. In addition to being the station's assistant program director, Hustle is clear on what it takes to get radio spins...

When Nas made his rap premiere, he was a mere 16 years old, barely old enough to drive much less become the voice of the people. Nonetheless, the Queensbridge MC came into the hip-hop league as the most valuable player amongst rookies, simply by keeping his concepts as translucent as possible...

When Fantasia Barrino kicks off her shoes while holding a microphone, people pay extra close attention. On Sunday night (July 8), the southern songstress hit the main stage at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans and, in keeping with her signature style, she hosted a sort of spiritual revival..…

Estelle is totally believable as the girl next door, even when performing in the heart of New Orleans Sunday night (July 8), where she played the Essence Music Festival Coca Cola Superlounge.The All of Me creator immediately took the stage with an infectious energy, launching into a rendition of The…

MC Lyte keeps adding to her legacy beyond rap music, but everything she has a hand in incorporates the hip-hop culture as a whole.On Saturday afternoon (July 7), the rap pioneer performed at the Essence Music Festival's block party in New Orleans' Champions Square...

Mary J. Blige is no stranger to the main stage at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, and Saturday night (July 7), the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul fulfilled her unspoken promise of having attendees shouting in agreement, singing and crying along with her lyrics of pain and perseverance...

Kevin Hart was late to the Essence Music Festival stage in New Orleans Saturday night (July 7), and no one in the audience seemed to care in the least. As the lone comedian playing the festival's main stage this weekend, Hart had to have known that it was imperative that he come with his best..…

Ledisi's vocal abilities are clearly derived from the powerhouse songstresses of a past era. The soul singer took the main stage at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans Saturday night (July 7), showcasing her incredible range and perfect pitch for nearly an hour...

This is proving to be a big year for Tank. The singer-songwriter joined a supergroup, started a label and hit the main stage at the Essence Music Festival for the first time on Saturday evening (July 7), bringing new group member Tyrese along for the ride...

Either D'Angelo doesn't realize how long he's been gone and how much he's changed, or none of it matters to him -- a notion that would certainly be commendable. The industry-darling-turned-industry-recluse has been on a tear, doing a run of shows since the start of 2012 and tryin…